Oakton’s EPA Section 608 Certificate offers a pathway to start your career in the HVAC industry. Oakton’s EPA Section 608 Certificate is an affordable program that helps you build real-world skills and earn the certification employers require. Whether you're new to the trades or returning to college to upskill, this program prepares you for new opportunities and better job prospects.
In five credit hours, you’ll get hands-on experience with air conditioning and refrigeration systems. You’ll remove, store, recharge and handle refrigerants, identify key system components, and follow EPA laws and safety protocols. You’ll also explore tools of the trade, workplace expectations, and career paths in HVAC.
You’ll prepare for the EPA 608 Certification exam with guided review—and you’ll take the test on-site at Oakton. You won’t need to travel or coordinate your exam separately. When you complete the program, you’ll hold the credential required to work with refrigerants legally.
Employers across the northwest Chicago suburbs seek certified technicians. With this certificate, you’ll stand out in a growing field.
Take the first step toward a rewarding career. Explore how to get EPA 608 certified at Oakton; your future starts here.
Enrolling at Oakton College can save you thousands of dollars and help you earn more over the course of your career. Our tuition is among the lowest in the region, and we offer many ways to bring your costs down even more.
99 percent of Oakton students graduate without debt.
To help you get there, you can apply for a scholarship, which you don’t have to pay back. We award $12 million in scholarships annually. Financial Aid includes grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance that can reduce your costs of attending college.
We offer payment options that give you control over how you pay. Pay all at once or spread your payments over the course of the semester.
Learn more about your options for paying for your education
Christopher J Hirst
Associate Professor / Chair
chirst@oakton.edu
(847) 635-1955
Dave Cangelosi
Lecturer
dcangelo@oakton.edu
James Coates
Lecturer
jcoates@oakton.edu
Room B206, Skokie
David Dulin
Lecturer
ddulin@oakton.edu
James Dunn
Lecturer
jdunn@oakton.edu
Dave Arvans
Chief Facilities Engineer
Elgin Hospital
Robert Axelrod, PE
President
Cooling Equipment Service
Jim Coates
Director of Training
International Union of Operating Engineers
Mike Kaplan
Service Manager
Kaplan’s Heating and Cooling
Jack O’Rourke
V.P. Engineering Manager
Able Engineering
Allen Schwartz, PE
Director of Engineering
Ferguson Heating and Cooling Supply
John Smith
President
Effective Air
Licensure Requirements: Each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements. Oakton has researched and/or contacted state licensing authorities to confirm that the program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure or certification.
Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. As of June 1, 2023, we have determined that individuals that after successful completion of the EPA Section 608 Certification course curriculum:
Meets the education requirements leading to licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
If you intend to practice in any state other than Illinois, you should contact the appropriate licensing agency to independently verify whether Oakton’s program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state before beginning Oakton’s program. Be aware that state licensure requirements may change from time to time and that states may have conditions for licensure in addition to educational requirements.
This information is provided to meet the Disclosure Requirements for Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification.
